Major League Soccer will meet with representatives of the main supporters groups in the Pacific Northwest following a controversy over trademark rights to the Cascadia Cup.

The league’s intention to trademark the name of the competition among Seattle, Portland and Vancouver soccer teams — which dates to 2004, before the teams were part of MLS — has been met with impassioned resistance.

The Emerald City Supporters (Sounders FC’s largest supporter group), the Timbers Army of Portland and the Southsiders of Vancouver issued a joint statement Thursday, announcing they have formed a Cascadia Cup Council that will also pursue the rights of the trophy.

“Not only does the Cascadia Cup Council believe they rightfully own the trademark to Cascadia Cup,” the statement said, “but they also are of the belief they are the appropriate entity to protect the mark from third parties that are unaffiliated with the supporters groups in the Pacific Northwest.”

MLS, in a statement released by a league spokesman Thursday, said its intentions had the interest in the teams and fans in mind:

“A registered trademark would put Major League Soccer in a position to protect the brand from exploitation by parties unaffiliated with the league and its supporters. However, we understand that some of our fans have concerns about how the trademark will be managed, and we are planning to meet soon with leaders of the three teams’ supporters groups to discuss the topic together.”

Montero loan nearly complete

Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer confirmed in a statement Thursday that the Sounders are finalizing the one-year loan of forward Fredy Montero to Colombian club Millonarios. It was the first comment from the team since the move was reported last week.

“We hope to have this transaction completed in the next few days,” added Hanauer, who is also part owner. “Fredy has been a tremendous part of our success the last four years, and this decision was not taken lightly. This was a process that Fredy and the Sounders cooperated on, and our hope is that it works out successfully for both parties.”

Montero also met with Colombian media Thursday, the first day of Millonarios’ preseason.

Notes

• The 2013 MLS All-Star Game will be July 31 at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., against a to-be-determined international opponent.

• A celebration of Mike Ryan‘s life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Alaska Airlines Arena at the University of Washington. Ryan, one of the pioneers of Seattle soccer, died in November at age 77 due to a rare autoimmune disorder.